Stanley resigns post as council president

REDKEY — In a surprise move, town council president Doug Stanley resigned from that post and was replaced by Terri Taylor Thursday night.
Not present at the Thursday evening council session, Stanley submitted a letter of resignation earlier in the day, stating he wanted “to resign as town council president effective immediately.”
Stanley’s term on the council was scheduled to continue until the end of the year.
He had already decided not to seek re-election.
“As a lame duck council member with six months remaining to serve I feel it is in the best interest of the town that I take this action. I no longer feel effective in dealing with the town’s issues. I will continue to assist the Redkey Council if asked and as needed,” Stanley wrote in his brief letter.
Stanley also indicated he was considering resigning from the town council altogether, but fellow council members said they wanted to try to talk him out of that idea and have him remain as a regular council member until his term expires at the end of December.
Council reluctantly voted to accept Stanley’s resignation as council president.
However, they voted unanimously not to accept his proposal to resign from the town council, effective Aug. 1. Council member Jim Funkhouser said that he and other council members hope to change Stanley’s mind about that idea prior to the end of this month.
In his letter, Stanley stated that he would remain on the Jay County Economic Development Board as the Redkey representative “at the pleasure of the town council, unless a replacement is made.”
In addition he said, “I will no longer serve as Redkey’s representative in any other capacity.”
Taylor was elected as Stanley’s successor on a split vote. Council members Funkhouser and Phil Philebaum voted for her, while Taylor and Charlie Noble abstained.
Taylor said she didn’t want to cast a vote for herself, and town attorney Leslie Mathewson said that would not be necessary since there were two favorable votes and no opposing candidate.
Taylor then chaired the remainder of the meeting, saying that she planned to take her time to review issues before the council, as well as rely heavily on advice from the town attorneys from the law firm of Brooke-Mawhorr, Muncie.
“We’re all going to cooperate. Thank you for taking the post,” Funkhouser said.
Among the other items on the agenda, council members approved paving work for Logan Street from Cleveland Street to the entrance to the trailer court, and for George Street from Bell to Delaware Street. Council members agreed that both streets were in need of major repair work.
They approved a contract with LICA Construction Corporation, Berne, to do both streets for a cost, not exceeding $25,500. LICA representative Tyler Hatzell said the work will probably begin in September.
In other action Thursday night, town council members:
•Approved sending the town’s newest full-time patrolman, Joe Hibbard, to town marshal’s training school, starting in September.
•Adopted a proclamation, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the 1985 Redkey girls, 12 and under, softball team which won the Indiana state softball championship in that division. They declared the week of July 21 as Girls, 12 and Under All Star Week in Redkey.
•Heard several compliments about the Independence holiday fireworks  display on July 3 at Redkey’s Morgan Park which was presented by the Redkey Volunteer Fire Department.
•Listened to a report updating town officials about economic development income tax (EDIT) fund options from Jay County Development Corporation executive director Bill Bradley.
Bradley said more property for industrial and economic development in Redkey needs to be acquired as the entire Redkey Industrial Park has now been purchased by Bell Aquaculture.
•Listened to concerns from several residents about golf carts being driven on the new sidewalks along Ind. 1.
•Discussed a recent incident on a Sunday morning where a gas main was damaged by a private contractor who reportedly did not follow the proper location procedures concerning underground utility lines. Council members voted to have the town’s legal firm pursue the issue with the possibility of fines being levied.[[In-content Ad]]